•5^ * -it * -it ii- ^t 4<- * ^^ ^f- ^i- ^i- * * * ^i- ^ ^ ^i- ^i- * * ^^ ^' * * ■^' * * '^' '^ J; 



* W e Resume Publicaticn After several months of dormancy, ^^^ 



^{. FRUIT NOTES appears again with the July issue, fte hope it -- 



^^ contains something of interest. If further enllghtenir^nt ^-<- 



^t on any of the items is needed, a postcard will bring that ^ 



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information, 

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LOYffiRIMG TALL TREES 



An apple tree is frequently about as high as it is wide. A '^f^f-^'f^JSn/ 

 feet, particularly in a crowded orchard, is not uncommon. _ ^L? oStof theSee^ 

 the topmost branches and of harvesting the choice apples in *^f P^^J °^^^^jj!! 

 is a good reason for lowering these trees to a reasonable level and for replacing 

 older orchards with young ones, 



A few days ago a good grower in Vermont discussed his method of keeping trees 

 .vithin bounds at one of our twilight meetings. "^P^^^^J.'^f J^""' SnS trees back 

 height of 12 feet and believes it -pays to do so. His method of slashing trees back 

 so drastically reminds one of the "hat rack system" of pruning peach trees in 

 Lorgia. But he gets a high percentage of Fancy fruit and both spraying and 

 harvesting are simplified. 



The reader may wonder why such trees do not develop a large number of sprouts 

 and excessively vigorous growths. The reason is that little or no J^^rogen is 

 appliedo In fact, under the soil conditions in this orchard, good tree vigor is 

 stimulated through heavy pruning alone.With this system of management, trees 

 requiring only 8-foot ladders are maintained year after year. 



But tefore we decide to adopt this method in our own orchard o^ towering trees, 

 .fe should bear in mind that our Vermont friend did not accomplish his goal in one 

 year. He has been keeping his trees lovv from the time they came into bearing. It 

 ±s his suggestion that tall trees be lowered only three feet per year ^J^tead of 

 trying to do it all at once. This raises a question- Is it ^^etter to cut all 

 branches back to a given level, or will a few heavy cuts be preferable the first 

 year? The writer favors the latter method, 



Assumne a tree 30 years old and about as many feet tall, the extreme top may 

 I. madrriargely of lo or three hea^ upright growths. ^ ^f f ---J^^ ^H' 

 many other shaded growths within 15 or l8 feet of the ground f ^^^f ^"^'..^^/^^^-^P* 

 The second year, we mere.ly take advantage of that layer of P°*^'^^^^\J^^"*^?^,^e 

 and again eliminate other strong growths which threaten to over-top them. There 

 is little excuse for an apple grower to struggle throughout the season with fruit 

 which is more than 20 feet above the ground. 



NATIONAL FAR]\I SA^-^TY VffiEK July 20-26. Check danger spots. Clean up 

 fire hazaHFT "St^ ^h^icals safely. Provide safeguards for equipment, 

 ?/atch your step. Let's reduce loss of time from injuries and property 

 loss from fire, to say nothing of crippling accidents or loss ol iiie. 

 1952 will be a safer year on American farms if farmers will make every 

 week a safety week. 



